were should i start?

So i know nothing about computers, i have never done any major things on my computer. But i want to learn how to mod my original xbox, i want to get some sick mods for halo 2. Here are some questions.
1How do i hook the computer up to the xbox?
2what software should i down load first?
3would this be the best site to find this information?

first of all google.com is magical you can find most of what you seek in that... but being in this site is amazing there are people that love to help others...its amazing how many.so pretty much all your problems will be solved....well 90% of them

well for sick mods for halo 2 takes some time and money.....but modding the xbox is fun too...

To hook up your xbox to your computer you need a few things..

*a router with ethernet cords plugged into your comp and xbox
*a ftp program google FlashFXP and you can get a free trial for 30 days
*a modded xbox(hard or softmodded)

Ok so i read that thing, it sounds like i got to buy some stuff. im not exactaly sure y i need to buy splinter cell though?? What does that have to do with halo? Is this part of the soft mod prosses? Is it just getting the xbox ready to do some reel modding?

also, im not reely sure what a router is? but i have a eithernet cord. From what i read if i softmod the xbox i wont beable to play live rite? What is the other way to mod the xbox? If its too hard than dont even bother explaining it.

best way would be to send your Xbox to a reputable site like Teammodders.com (in the USA) and have a modchip installed like an Xecuter 3, or for the basic user like myself DuoX2 chip (it will do anything most average users want and only costs $20)

For sotmodding you have to buy Splinter Cell, 007 Agent Under Fire, or Mech Assult (not the platinum hits version) which right now you can get used at places like EB Games for $2.99
Then you also need AR Max for Xbox, and a CAT5 crossover cable.
A router is what you get if you only have one ethernet plug on your PC, this will give you extra plugs to connect more devices, like an xbox, that need to access the internet. If you have money and are really feeling good, you can buy a wireless router and wireless gaming adapter (about $150 for both) and do it all wireless.

You can access Live if you are softmodded and you do it correctly.http://www.teammodders.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=19&sid=81144b4e120fff6477f370745114a27e
see the first couple tutorials.
The only thing i have heard about banning due to the hard drive change is that you have to use the hard drive you had when you created the account. So if you use it now on that 8GB HDD and switch that for a large one you will get banned. But if you create the account after the HDD install then you are fine.

Ok i just checkedout teammodders. I would get no satisfaction out of having someone else mod my xbox for me. This is something i would like to be able to say i did myself.(impress my freinds)
So i think i have a router. Cause on the back of my modem there are like 5 eithernet hookups. is this a router?
I think im gunna softmod it cause its cheap and i could do it to my freinds xbox's too.
''Then you also need AR Max for Xbox, and a CAT5 crossover cable. ''
What is this? Can someone explain what armax is? and whats a cat5 crossover cable?

no having multipal places in the back of your computer tower isnt a router.... but that means you dont need one

umm.. AR MAX is a program you buy for xbox games saves and it comes with a memory card and a usb hub so you can plug your memory card into your computer. and with the program you can get gamesaves (like people beat games and post it on there so you can have the game beaten already with all characters and stupid cheeting junk) but on that program you can find the lunix installer so you can install the softmod.

Lol, it's a mess back there.
The small one with the D on it, is our printer router, the one that says SMS is the one that connects my Xbox, and the d-link connects pc's.

Here are some things you need after you have softmodded your Xbox:
FlashFXP allows you to FTP (file-transfer protocol) to your Xbox, and transfer files between the two. For modding Halo 2, you would FTP the maps, and edit them, and then FTP the map back over.

Ok sorry steiny but im realy still not sure y i need the crossover cable, if i use the action replay memory card to transport information from my comp to my xbox than whats the cabble for?
Thanks for that information corn thats gunna be a big help!
Have any of you guys ever modded halo 2? Maybe you could show me some of your mods. Gamer tag is teamramrod518.

im going too eventually i just need to get my hard drive installed but im having problems with that...getting an error 6

but you need a cable so you can ftp with your xbox which you will need when you start editing the maps....and getting other files on there....the AR max will only get game saves because the memory card has really small memory on it (8mb) which is really really small for most files

Basically, you need the crossover cable, because the maps are huge files, that can't be transfered really any other way.
I would show you my mods, but however I don't have Xbox Live anymore. But you can do just about anything to a map.

Also, modding isnt the only thing you can do with a softmodded Xbox. You can play backups, ROMS, rip DVD's to your harddrive, install a new harddrive. Theres some other things, but I can't pick 'em off the top of my head right now.

i will add to corns list of things you can do.
stream media from the PC with XBMC
Stream shoutcast radio with XBMC
play games on the internet with thinks like Xlink Kai and XBconnect (through system link option on game) and they are free!
have various dashboards and themes for them to really customize the look of your Xbox
have a ton of great application to get the very most you can out of your Xbox. Thinks like DVD RegionX (region free movie player that allows you to play movies using the controller so you do not need to buy the remote), DVD2Xbox (mentioned above to copy games to the hard drive), XBMC (Xbox Media Center), use dashboards that have good file browsers and game save managers and so on.

And for most of that stuff you would need an FTP connection. You use it to steam media, play games online, update you programs on the Xbox when newer versions are available, download themes (skins) for your dashboards and stuff like that.

Trust me, you want it modded (preferably with a good modchip) and you want an FTP connection to get the most out of that wonderful console.